05 Desember 2012

Developing Camouflage That Changes with its Environment

Research may
improve camouflage for military vehicles. This image has been digitally
manipulated. (photo : Aus DoD)

Defence
researchers are examining new materials to improve camouflage protection for
military vehicles.

Chief
Defence Scientist Alex Zelinsky says a research program is focusing on
developing electrochromic materials that change colour when different voltages
are applied.

“Camouflage
works very well against specific backgrounds, but the Australian Defence Force
deploys its vehicles in a wide variety of operational areas,” Dr Zelinsky said.

“The same
background can look very different, depending on the time of day, the weather
and the time of year. A camouflage scheme that works effectively in one
instance may be ineffective in another. We want to develop something that
provides an extra level of protection for our men and women who are deployed.”

Experimentation
at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has included work
with electro-active polymers and commercial materials such as ‘SPD-Smart Glass’
film.

SPD glass is
a type of film containing randomly oriented microscopic particles which align
to let light pass through when electrical voltage is applied but block light
when no voltage is present.

Research is
now progressing through collaboration with the University of South Australia,
where DSTO is co-funding a PhD in electrochromic research.

The research
aims to develop electrochromic materials that can be packaged in a robust,
field-ready way to assist the ADF with adaptive camouflage systems.